Of berlin



UNITED STTES PATENT OFFIC WILLIAM H. RHODES, OF BERLIN, NEW YORK.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 13,360, dated July 31, 1855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM H. RHODES, of Berlin, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented a new and improved apparatus for legs shortened by being flexed at knee or by an unreduced luxated hip-joint'of long standing, called the Cripples walking assistant, by Wm. I'I. Rhodes, M. D., that enables the wearer to walk erect without crutch or cane, and also to turn it out of the way and almost out of sight when he is sitting or riding; it also gives strength to ankle and knee joints; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists, in so constructing the apparatus (shown in drawings), that the wearer can walk or stand erect with ease and safety, sit or ride without its being in the way; he can graduate the length of standard; it gives elasticity to the step; prevents slipping and noise when walking; gives strength to the ankle jo-int and also prevents its being sprained or luxated; gives strength to the knee joint., and admits of its being' flexed still more (if movable) when sitting; and is so fastened to the limb, as to avoid all binding or disagreeable sensation.

To enable others to make and use my invention I proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct a foot-plate, Figure 1, e e fitted to the sole of boot or shoe, with two prongs extending' up on each side, to the place where the forward and back hingelike motion of the ankle joint is, which there unites with leg pieces, Fig. l, d, making a hinge-joint connection, held together by pin or bolt, Fig. l, Z, (removable at pleasure) and graduated by screw la, same figure. On this plate I put two holds for standard, Fig. 3, fr, and one to hold on the brace, Fig. 6, l; I also attach a slide on the posterior end, to slip into heeltap, Fig. 6, y), and at the anterior end I make two points, Fig. 6, g, g, to slide partly through the sole of boot; said slide and points keep it in position on boot. I then make a standard, Fig. l, f, f, wit-h two arms to give it strength and hold the roller, Fig. l, z, with brace, Fig. l, g; a cross bar at bottom through which to screw on inverted cups, Fig. l, I; a cross bar at top to give it strength; and a hinge connection with foot plate. The roller above named is a hollow body (to contain spring and spring head), with two tenons, one'of them must be taken outto put in said spring and head, as shown in Fig. 3, z-u u-t t t; the brace is then slid into the roller, and the roller with its movable tenon adjusted, it is then replaced in its proper position, by springing the arms of standard outwardly; the brace (with its notch at the lower end, Fig. 3, 10,) is fastened to the foot plate in a hinge form with standard likewise) and held firm in a position for use, by the spring crowding it to its notch as shown in Fig. 3, S, also Fig. l. The standard and brace are turned back, out of the way, by knocking the lower end of brace outwardly (with foot or cane) which frees it from its notch w, and lets it slide in roller, Fig. 8, r, and snugly turn back together, Fig. 2. The standard, etc., are adjusted to a walking position by a cane, or by the wearer catching the rubber, Fig. l, z', against the other ankle as he arises to walk, thus extending it.

The leg piece, Fig. l, d, I make whole at top, passing from under the thigh, upon each side or knee and down each side of leg', connecting it with the prongs of foot plate by a graduated hinge connection (without lateral motion) thus making a firm brace for foot plate, leg, and ankle, securing the lat-ter againststrains, and luxations, admitting the fastening of instrument to limb to bel at knee, by a capsular band u and buckles, Fig. l, m, thus avoiding all binding or unpleasant sensation to foot and leg; it is readily taken apart at joint, by turning aside retaining spring, Fig. 4t, 5, and taking out pin, Fig. l, Z.

I make a thigh piece, Fig. 5, with a semicircle cross piece at top, with two arms, thin and broad at the knee extremity, that maj1 be sprung laterally, but unyielding the other way, having a joint connection with legpiece at the knee, by a screw on each side that forms the center of motion, Fig. l and 5, 0 o, the other screws Figs. l and 5, o fu, hold the joint rm in a walking position, and thus give strength to a weak joint. (The thigh piece is used only by those whose knee will not bear the weight of the body without it.) By springing the arms toward the thigh, frees them from the points of screws a o (the ends being smooth) and permits the wearer to flex the knee still more (if it admits of motion) when sitting. It comes into gear itself as he rises to walk.

I construct two or more inverted cups of different lengths and sizes, to graduate the length of standard and fill them with india rubber or gutta percha (letting it project nearly il; inch) to give elasticity, to the step, prevent slipping and a thumping` sound when walking on it. They are fastened to standard by screws, Fig. 6, 2 2.

The instrument should be made of caststeel, except cup, which may be made of malleable iron or steel.

To remove the instrument from leg separate it at ankle joint by removing pin, etc., when the thigh part is used. Vhen that is not used unbuckle the band at knee and remove boot and instrument together if the wearer chooses.

The Weight of instrument without thigh piece, is from 1 to 1% lb.

What I claim as my invention and improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent., is

1. The knee joint, as described in specifcation and drawing; and the ankle joint as set forth.

2. I also claim the standard f f and brace, g with their hinge oint connection to foot plate; coiled spring with roller to hold the same, which retains the brace and standard in position when walking, as set forth.

These principles and improvements united, forming the within apparatus, which is of great utility to the afflicted.

WILLIAM H. RHODE S.

fitnesses C. SNYDER, B. SHEELER. 

